Gun safety organizations call attention to death of transgender teen in Mobile

On May 24, Alabama Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action released a joint statement on the death of Mobile teen Tayy Dior Thomas.

Thomas, a 17-year-old black and transgender girl, was shot and killed on May 7 in what her family is trying to characterize as a hate crime. The family currently runs a GoFundMe to pay funeral expenses. The main suspect, Carl Washington Jr., was identified by the Thomas family as someone Tayy Dior was dating.

Tori Cooper, the Human Rights Campaign's director of community engagement for the Transgender Rights Campaign, said that “so far in 2024, nearly half of all victims of fatal violence with a known killer were killed by a romantic or sexual partner, friend or family member. member.”

“Trans people should be able to trust that the people around them will help protect them from this violence, not cause it,” she continued.

Alabama Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action highlighted the role of easy access to guns in easing Thomas' death in their joint statement.

Moms Demand Action Executive Director Angela Ferrell-Zabala said, “Tayy was robbed of a beautiful future by someone armed with hatred and easy access to a gun. »

Makayla Jordan, a volunteer leader with Alabama Students Demand Action, called gun violence prevention “a transgender rights issue, period.” Jordan also said that “gun violence rooted in hatred continues to claim the lives of trans youth every year – especially Black trans women.”

On March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility since 2009, President Biden declared: “An epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, particularly women and girls of color, continues to claim too many lives. Let's be clear: all of these attacks are anti-American and must stop. No one should have to be brave just to be themselves.»

Because Transgender Day of Visibility fell on the same day as Easter this year, the Alabama Republican Party called on the White House to apologize to Christians for recognizing the holiday.

Thomas' death comes after the Alabama state legislature passed major bills in recent years that discriminated against transgender people.

As the APR did reported on, a ban on gender-affirming care is currently in effect in Alabama as a legal challenge makes its way through the court system. The ban, signed into law by Governor Ivey in 2022, prohibits people under 19 from accessing puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy, which are essential medical care for many transgender people.

Passed and signed into law this year, SB129, in addition to prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, requires Alabama colleges to “ensure that all multiple occupancy restrooms are designated for used by individuals based on their biological sex.

As a result of these and related laws, Alabama received a “High priority for achieving fundamental equality» note on the human rights campaign's 2023 State Equality Index.